Indústria, Arte e Letras. 250 Anos da Imprensa Nacional is the name of the exhibition that the Portuguese state publisher, National Press, inaugurated on September 6th, as a celebration for its 250 years of life. The exhibition has free admission and will be open to the public until November 24th, at Picadeiro Real do Antigo Colégio dos Nobres, next to the National Museum of Natural History and Science and the Botanical Garden in Lisbon. The show, which is organized in ten sets that follow a chronological narrative, «crosses several dimensions that, for not following any guidelines, cut across all historical reading from its industrial phase to its publishing activity, from its artistic dimension to its teaching role in the field of graphic arts». The exhibition highlights «The performance of a public mission that has been conditioned by different political contexts, but has always given it a strategic role», said the publisher. In addition to the history that dates back to its creation, in 1768, the remembrance of the 250 years of the National Press also looks to the future, challenging innovation, especially that related to graphic security printing and the access to the knowledge of digital age. The National Press is boosting an extensive program of initiatives to commemorate the 250 years, which integrates editorial, cultural and historical heritage activities, considering its history since its foundation up to the present time. The programme involves several partners and targets general public.
